CES 2020: Aura Smart Strap for Apple Watch to Launch in March - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

CES 2020: Aura Smart Strap for Apple Watch to Launch in March

by

Aura at CES 2019 introduced an Apple Watch "Smart Strap" designed to measure weight, water, fat, and muscle via electrodes built into the band. The strap didn't end up launching in 2019, but Aura says that it's set to launch in March 2020, with pre-orders available now.

The Aura Strap, which is priced at $99, claims to allow users to measure their body composition and track their hydration levels and fitness progress. Aura says the band uses bioimpedance to analyze the upper body, tracking lung performance and changes in breathing, comparing that information with pulse data.

aurastrap1
The band is able to assess the risk of heart failure and notify the user, though this is something that newer Apple Watch models can do on their own without the need for an additional strap. Measuring body composition and hydration is not something the Apple Watch can do on its own, though testing will need to be done to see how accurate the Aura strap is in practice.

aurastrap2
The Aura Strap is available in four color options, including black, green, red, and gray, and it attaches to the Apple Watch using the standard Apple Watch lugs. According to Aura, the strap transfers results to the watch "via an ultrasound interface" and it works for up to six months on a single battery. It has the same waterproof specifications as the watch and is able to sync with HealthKit.

Aura is taking pre-orders for the watch as of today, with the device set to begin shipping out to customers starting in March 2020.

Top Rated Comments

cdcastillo Avatar
87 months ago
I want to see the scientific papers on peer-reviewed journals comparing this with clinical measures. Otherwise, is just wishful thinking and snake oil sales. The papers usually come out 1-2 years after a product comes to market (e.g., there have been 2 in the last few months about the apple watch and A-Fib (one about the HEART study in the NEJM, and other using the apple watch to take a 6 lead precordial EKG in other journal, can't remember the name right now).
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MareLuce Avatar
87 months ago
All that but no pulse ox measurement?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
87 months ago

I want to see the scientific papers on peer-reviewed journals comparing this with clinical measures. Otherwise, is just wishful thinking and snake oil sales. The papers usually come out 1-2 years after a product comes to market (e.g., there have been 2 in the last few months about the apple watch and A-Fib (one about the HEART study in the NEJM, and other using the apple watch to take a 6 lead precordial EKG in other journal, can't remember the name right now).

If you can find this please update us!!
The Aura technology detects the RISK of heart failure before its development, i.e. in advance but does not make the diagnosis of AF after its development as in "new Apple Watch models". This is something different as can be seen from the US patent:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=10463260.PN.&OS=PN/10463260&RS=PN/10463260
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
87 months ago
Interesting technology, albeit I question the accuracy. I suspect Apple probably Will release their own version of a watch band like this in the future similarly.

But I think it’s very clear other manufacturers are seeing Apples leading with health related features, thus following by releasing products like this.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gugy Avatar
87 months ago
Looks interesting. I’ll wait until reviews comes out.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Today With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and changes coming with iOS...
deep black iphone 18 pro

Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Sold in U.S. Differs in One Way

Saturday September 12, 2026 3:27 pm PDT by
As noted by Nicolas Lellouche, who writes for the French tech website Numerama, Apple has updated its tech specs pages for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to clarify which models are equipped with its new C2 cellular modem and where. Apple now says the iPhone 18 Pro has a C2 modem worldwide, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the chip in every country except for the U.S. According...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors